Barry Paull: former Wingecarribee Shire Council boss denies assault charge

Body-worn footage, CCTV and witness accounts will form part of the evidence in the assault case against a former top council staffer in the Southern Highlands, a court has heard.

Police are sifting through a ‘large quantity’ of evidence, delaying the case against former Wingecarribee Council general manager, a court has heard.

Barry Paull, 58, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault after he allegedly pushed a journalist after a heated council meeting earlier this year.

Police will allege Mr Paull assaulted the 23-year-old journalist in a Moss Vale pub about 6pm on March 9 after a fiery council meeting which left two councillors shouting at each other.

Police allege the assault occurred after the young journalist asked to take a photograph of the group of councillors and council staff who were at the pub after the meeting, but the group refused.

Former acting general manager of Wingecarribee Shire Council, Barry Paull, has been charged with common assault.

Police will allege Mr Paull then grabbed the arm of the journalist and pushed her out of the area. Police confirmed she did not require medical treatment.

Multiple witnesses attended the police station to give statements and CCTV footage taken from the venue was reviewed thoroughly.

On Tuesday, the court heard the large quantity of evidence was the reason behind the delay in setting a hearing date.

Mr Paull’s lawyer, Ian Ratcliff, told the court he was still waiting on three documents from the prosecution to complete the brief of evidence.

The court heard the documents included the transcript of what was recorded on the police body-worn video, as well as phone records and police officer statements.

Despite the outstanding documentation, both prosecution and defence agreed on January 24, 2022 for the hearing date.

Rachel Russell and her 'Respectful Representation' ticket protesting outside Moss Vale Court on June 8, when Barry Paull was scheduled for his first court appearance.

Police prosecutor Peter Robinson said the prosecution intends to call on up to 10 civilian witnesses and six police witnesses to support their case.

Mr Paull, who resigned from his position at Wingecarribee Shire Council on April 7, did not appear in court and was not required to.

The charges were headline news after a year of dysfunction for the local council, which was suspended by Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock on March 12.

Mr Paull will appear in Moss Vale Local Court on January 24 next year to contest the assault charge.